Heavier-than-air aircraft



May 17, 1932.

W. MUSS HEAVIERTHAN-AIR AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 11. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 U INVENTOR. VV/LHA'LM Muss BY L T ORNEYS.

May 17, 1932. W. Muss 1,859,107

HEAVIER-THAN-AIR AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 11, 1931 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. W/L HELM M055 A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 17', 1932 UNITED STA WILHELM MUSE, OF HANOVER, GERMANY HEAVIEB-TEAN-AIB AIRCRAFT Application filed February 11, 1981, Serial No.

.This invention relates to heavier than air aircraft, and has for its object to provide an aeroplane, whether of the land or water type, which constantly maintains a horizontal position but is, nevertheless, capable of rising.

The above object is attained, according to v the invention, by providing, on each side of the body of the aeroplane and in succession, three planes which are laterally arched. from m the body, are rotatably mounted about axes transverse to the direction of flight, and progressively widen from the front to the back of the aeroplane. An engine driven propeller is disposed on each side of the body below or in front of each plane of the foremost pair of planes, and in addition two engine driven air-screws are provided, -one in front of the body as a propeller, and the other above the body as a lifting screw.

An aeroplane constructed in the above manner maybe adapted for vertical ascent and descent, and for forward and backward flight by the further provision according to the invention, of: an engine driven propeller g behind or below each plane of the back pair of planes, and by providing above the front. and rear ends of the aeroplane, obliquely disposed lifting screws which draw air from over the aeroplane, and force it longitudinally outwardly as much'as possible so that the currents produced do not reach the aeroplane body.

The invention is illustrated by way of example i'n--the accompanying. drawings, in 5 which 2-- Figure 1 is a front view of a land aeroplane constructed according tothe invention, Figure 2-is aside view thereof, Figure 3 is a side view of a modified con-- struction of aeroplane according to the invention, employing an additional propeller arrangement, and

Figure d; is a plan view, Figure 3.

The aeroplane body 1 is of downwardly corresponding to 514,978, and in Germany February 21, 1929.

directed V shape, conforming to the slo e of the arched planes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-and 10, whi its to surface is of inverted V or roof-shape.

The ody l -is provided with running wheels .for use in landing on the ground, whilst it is also formed as a floating body for use as a seaplane.

At the two sides of the body 1, there are rotatably mounted on axles 2, 3 and 4, 'disposed transversely to the direction of flight, u

the arched planes 5,6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the outer ends of which are connected with the ends of the axles 2, 3 and 4, and the inner ends of which extend to the widest part of the body 1. The planes increase progressively in width from the front to the back of t e aeroplane, so that each plane of the pair of planes 7, 8 is wider than each plane of the pair of planes 5, 6 and each plane of the pair of planes 9, 10 is wider than each plane of the pair of planes 7, 8.

Arranged beneath or in front of the planes of the pair of planes 5, 6 are propellers 13 and 14 respectively, which are driven by engines 11 and 12 respectively, and the di- 7o 'ameter of the propellers conforms to the curvature of the lanes. Another propeller 15 is also provi ed at the front 16 of the body, and a further air-screw 17, disposed obliquely to the body, is provided on the-. top of the body to act as a lifting screw. The

ropeller 15 and air-screw 17 are both driven y an engine 18. 19 denotes the lateral steerr ing rudder. The planes 5 to 10 are suitably strutted to the corresponding plane axles 2, 3 3 and 4, and are rotatably adjustable about said axles from the pilots seat 21 by means of rods 20.

The successive widening of the pairs of planes ensures that,- on adjustment of the 3:; planes (see Figure 2) for rising of the aeroplane, the pairs of planes 7, 8 and 9, 10, arranged behind the pair of planes 5, 6, will still present parts exposed to the action of.

the air thrown back by the propellers 13, 14 00 in which case the air pushed back by them 'exerts an additional action by encountering the sloping parts 28 of the body 1. With this arrangement, it is possibleto drive the propellers 13, 14,26 and 27 in common by an engine mounted in the middle of the body, whereas, in the first case, the propellers 13, 14, 26 and 27 are driven by independent engines-arranged beneath or in front of the planes 5, 6, 9 and 10. a

Above the aeroplane at the front and rear screws 17 and 29 which work in opposition, so as both to draw air from above the aeroplane and force it longitudinally outwardly,-

whereby the air currents of said air-screws are prevented as much aspossible from striking the aeroplane. In addition to the propeller 15 at the front of the body 1, auxiliary air-screws 30 and 31 are disposed with their axes transverse to the direction of flight, laterally of the middle pair of planes 7, 8. These air-screws 30 and 31 may usually, how ever, be .omitted. For permitting backward flight to be performed, there maybe provided a further air-screw 32 which corresponds inversely in its functions to the propeller 15.

In comparison with the action obtained with the construction illustrated by Figure 2, an improvement is obtained by fitting the propellers 13, 14 and 17, 29 provided in .the construction illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, inasmuch as the oblique positioning of the lifting screws considerably increases, as experiments have shown, the capability of the aeroplane of rising in its forward flight.

By the further provision of the air-screws 26 and 27, it is possible, by suitably adjusting the arched planes 5 to 10, to obtain a vertical ascent and also a vertical descent, the speed of the propellers 17 and 29 being suitably regulated. For backward flight, the propeller 15 is stopped and the propeller 32 brought into action? By providing for regulation of the speed of all the propellers and air-screws, and by adjustment. of the planes,

the speeds of forward and'backward flight,

and of ascent and descent are variable.

It is also within the scope of the invention to construct the lanes 5 to 10 of flat form instead of arched respectively, are provided inclined lifting.

What I claim is I 1. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having propelling and liftin air-screws and driving means therefor, a longitudinal series of arched planes extending laterally on each side of said body portion, and-separate propellers assoclated with the front planes on each side of the body, the planes successively increasing in widthfrom front to rear of the body portion.

2. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having propelling and liftin air-screws and driving mechanism therefor, a plurality of axles extending lat-.

erally on each side of the body in horizontally spaced relation, and a series of arched planes adjustably mounted on said axles on each-side of the body portion. i

'3. An aeroplane comprising in combination a bodyportion having propelling and liftin air-screws and driving mechanism there or, a plurality of axles extending laterally on each side of the body in horizontally spaced relation, a longitudinal series of arched planes adjustablymounted on saidseparate propellers associated with the front planes on each side of the body.

5. An! aeroplane comprising in combina-. tion a body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving mechanism therefor, a plurality of axles extending laterally on each side of the body in horizontally spaced relation, and a series of planes adjustably mounted on said axles on each side of the body portion, the planes successively increasing in width from front to rearof the body portion.

6. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving means therefor, arched planes extending laterally on each side of said body portion at the level of the widest part thereof, the body being V shaped below said arched planes, and separate propellers associated-with said arched planes on each .side of the body.

7. Anaeroplanecomprising in combination a body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving meanstherefor, arched planes extending laterally on each side of said body portion, and separate propellers associated with said arched planes on each side of the body, said propeller being above the front tion, includin lifting air-screws .vature thereof.

disposed below the level of said planes and i being of a diameter conforming to the cur- 8, An aeroplane comprising in combina tion a body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving means therefor, a longitudinal series-of arched planes extendinglaterally on each side of said bodyportion, and sepa te propellers associated with the front planes on each side of the' body, and alsolwith the rear planes on each side of the body portion. l 9. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having propelling and liftin air-screws and driving mechanism there or, a plurality of axles extending laterally on each side of the body in horizontall y spaced relation, and a series of planes adjustahlmounted on said .axles on each side of the y portion, and including inclined engine driven lifting air-screws disposed and rear ends of the body.

10. An aeroplane comprising 'in combination a body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving meanstherefor, arched planes extending laterally on each side of said body portion, and separate propellers asso'ciated'with said arched planes on each side of the body, and including inclined engine driven lifting air-screws disposed above the front and rear ends of the body.

11. An aeroplane comprising in combination a. body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving means therefor, a longitud'nal series of arched planes. extending laterally on each side of said body portion, and separate propellers associated with the front planes on each side of the body, and including inclined engine driven lifting air-screws disposed above the front and rear ends ofthe body.

12. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving means therefor, a longitudinal series of arched planes extending laterally on each side of said body portion, and separate propellers associated with the front planes on each side of the body, the planes successively increasing in width from front to rear of the body por- (1 above the front and rear ends of the body.

13. An aeroplane comprising in combination a'body portion having propelling and liftin air-screws and driving mechan sm there or, a plurality of axles extending laterally on each side of the body in horizontally spaced relation, and a series of arched planes adjustabl mounted on said-axles on each side of the ody portion, and including inclined engine driven lifting air-screws disosed above the front and rear ends of the y- 14. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion inclined engine driven tion a body'portion havin propelling and lifting air-screws and driiving' mechanism therefor, a plurality of axles extending laterally on each side of the body in horizontally spaced relation, a longitudinal series of arched planes adjustably'mo'unted on said axles on each side of the body portion, and separate propellersassociated with said archedplanes on each side .of the body, and

including incl nedengine driven lifting air-' screws disposed above the front and rear ends of the V 7 15. An aeroplane comprising incombinahavm'g propelling and lifting air-screws and driving mechanism therefor, a plurality erally on each side of the body. in horizontally spaced relation, a longitudinal series of arched planes adjustably mounted -on said axles, on each side of the body portion, and separate propellers associated wlththe front lanes on each side of the body, andincludmg inclined engine driven lifting air-screws disposed above the -f ront=and' rear ends of theflbody. p I

16. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having-propelling and lifting air-screws and driving mechanism therefor, a'plurality of'axles extending laterally on each side of the body in horizontally spaced relation, and a series of planes adjustably mounted on said axles on each side of the body portion, the planes successively increasing in width from front to rear of the body-portion, and including inclined engine driven lifting air-screws 'scopied above the front andrear ends of the 17. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having propelling and lifting air-screws and driving means therefor, arched planes extending laterally on each side of said body portion at the level of the widest part thereof, below said arched planes, and separate propellers associated with said arched planes on each side of the body, and including inclined engine driven lifting air-screws disosled above the frontand rear ends of the o y.

18. An aeroplane comprising in combination a body portion having propelling and 'lifting air-screws and driving means therefor, arched planes extending laterally on each sideof saidbody portion, and separate propellers associated with said arched planes on each side ofthe body, said propellers being disposed below the level of said planes and being of a diameter conforming to the curvature thereof, and including inclined engine drivenlifting air-screws disposed above the front and rear ends of the body.

the body being V shaped of axles extending lat- 19. An aeroplane compr sing in combinapropelling and lifting air-screws and drivlng means for, a lon itudinal series of arched lanes extending laterally on each side of sai body portion, and separate propellers associated. with the front planes on each side of the body, and also with the rear lanes on each 5 side of the body portion, an including inclined engine driven lifting air-screws disposed above the front and rear ends of the Intest-impnywhereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILHELM MU SS. 

